As Louis van Gaal heads into what could be a make-or-break week as manager of Manchester United, the club are to pursue a £60m deal for Borussia Dortmund forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang this summer, regardless of who is in charge next season.
United, who travel to League One Shrewsbury Town in the FA Cup fifth round on Monday night fresh from last Thursday’s humiliating Europa League defeat to Danish minnows FC Midtjylland, are determined to bolster their attacking options, having failed to score in 10 of their 39 games in all competitions this season.
Van Gaal’s team, who are struggling to qualify for the Champions League for next season, face a return leg against Midtjylland on Thursday and Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday. There was further speculation linking the former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho with the Old Trafford job over the weekend and Van Gaal has admitted that the club’s poor showing this season means that they have now lost the fear factor for opposition teams.
Efforts have already been made to move United into pole position in the race to sign Aubameyang, who is also a leading target for Arsenal.
The 26-year-old has scored 31 goals in 34 appearances for Dortmund this season, with the Gabon international edging out Yaya Touré to be crowned as African Footballer of the Year last month.
While United have previously been reluctant to sign African players owing to the prospect of losing their services for up to six weeks every two years to African Cup of Nations commitments, the club is now ready to widen its net to ensure every possible target is considered.
With Aubameyang’s status growing both in Africa and Europe, United have stressed their ability to develop the France-born forward’s image and commercial power should he move to Old Trafford.
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